Portable drier.



4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

W. B. RUGGLES. PORTABLE DRIER. APPLICATION FILED 05c. 16. 19.10.

W. B. RUGGLES. PORTABLE DRIER. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 16. 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

4% PINK/M1701? ATTORNEYS SB): T

W. B. RUGGLES.

PORTABLE DRIER. APPLICATION FILED use. 1 a, 1910.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

w. B. RU,G'GLES.

PORTABLE DRIER. APPLICATIONFILED DEC. lsflslo.

Patented Fe 1). s, '4 SHEETSSHEET.

WILLIAM B. RUGGLES, OF BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY.

PORTABLE DRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

- Application filed December 16. 1910. Serial No. 597,610.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM BARKER RUGoLEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bayonne. in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Driers, of which the following is a full, clear. and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to drier-s, and with respect to its more specific features. to portable driers of the kind involving a substantially horizontal rotating drum through which a heating medium is adapted to flow,

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a drier of the above type of such substantial construction that it may be readily and easily transferred from place to place without impairing its efliciency.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a drier of the above style with a liquid fuel heating system which not only efficiently dries the material, but is readily adapted to the necessities of transportation. Another object of the invention is the provision of a simple and efficient furnace, preferably of the oiLburning type. and one which is especially desirable in connection with a drier of a portable character.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed outhereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement, of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein are illustrated some of the various possible embodiments of the invention. Figure 1 is a side elevation of the portable drier: Fig.

is a plan view; Fig. 3 is a front end elevation; Figs. & and 5 are detail views of the feeding buckets; Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional elevation of the dischargr end of the drier. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the feed end of the drier.

The numeral 1 indicates a support or wagon body beneath which are suitably attached running wheels. The support may be of any suitable material and construction. but is preferably of a generally rurtangular shape. comprising metallic I-beams suitably spaced and braced to provide a substantial. framework to support the several devices composing the drier. The rear running wheels are so joined to the support as to be capable of steering the same. Mounted on cross-,pieces of the support are two series of bearing rollers 2. made of chilled iron.

These rollers are arranged in line across the support and suitably placed to accommodate the curvature of the drier d rum.

The drier comprises two concentrically arranged shells 3 and 4 of generally cylindrical shape. The outer shell 3 is provided cxteriorly with two heavy rolled steel tires 5 riveted thereto, which, when the drum is mounted on the support, rest-on the rollers 2, said rollers being so placed at either end of the support as to maintain the drum slightly inclined to the horizontal when the support is in normal level position. Thrust bearing rollers 5 are provided to prevent longitudinal movement of the drum. The shell 3 is also provided exteriorly with a gear 6 concentric therewith. meshing with a pinion 7 on a shaft having a bevel gear S engaging a bevel gear 9. rotatable on a cross shaft 10. carrying at one end a sprocket wheel 11, and at its other end. belt wheels l2 and 13.

The outer shell of the drier drum is made of steel plates. The inner shell or lluc lis also made of steel plates and is connected to the outer shell lrwcast iron straps ll, solidly riveted to both cylinders so as to hold the two shells rigidly together. lictween the center and each .end are sets of flexible links 2i. which allow for expansion and contraction due to changes in temperature. The drum is also provided with longi tudinally disposed vanes ll arrang d about its inner -wall to lift and stir up the material as it passes along.

The inner shell or flue -lis enlarged as at 14 near the header feed end of the drum and extends beyond the outer shell. passing through the stationary head or hood 1? and surroimding. but spaced from a combustion chamber or flue 16. in which combustion of fuel for heating takes place. The fuel burner will be described hereinafter. The chamber or flue 16 is cmicentrically and adjustably supported with respect to the cm larged portion ll of the flue by means of the straps 17 and it? and the ring 1 (see Fig. it) its end extending beyond the line l and lOO - chamber 16 tion 'of the length while the straps 18 are secured to the of the hood.

16 may be open its full diameter, butprefer-- -space between the chamber 16 I portion 11 in the ordinary operation of the and its position may I adjusted with respect to the flue l1. Asshown; the straps 17 are secured to a generally rectangular framework consist-ing of angle bars 20 and brace bars, cap. The outer end of the chamber therefore "be ably-a head is provided. having a central opening leading into said chamber.

The chamber orflue 16 is preferably lined with fire brick, and projects into the enlarged end 11 of the'fi'ue 1, and provides a concentric opening or space between the outer face of the one and the inner face of the other communicating with the atmosphere'and the flue 1 for the free entry of fresh air to the fine 1 at this point. It will be noted that the air "passing through the and enlarged device will be heated by the'walls of the and this heated air will enter a point remote from the burner. passes through the greater porofthe drum and opens directly thereinto at its rear end. By this construction it will be observed that'when a draft is established through the hood the products ofcombustion pass from thechamber 16. adjacent the front end of the drum, and are discharged to the rearthrough the flue 1,and back to the front end through the space between the flue 1 and the outer shell 3.

Thestationery hood 15 is of a generally cylindrical form closed at each end. The hood is supported by legs 25, which are attachedto'the body portion 1. and is further held in place by plates 26 attached to the cap 22 and to the angle bars 20. The rear end of the hood is provided with a central opening adapted to receive and form a collar around the drum. Thus between the eXten sion 11 and the peripherv of the hood '15 the flue at Theflue 1 an annular chamber is formed into which the drum opens.

' In the upper portion of the hood is an openingcommunicating with a pipe 27 leading to a stack or a rotary exhaust fan 28,

which in turn communicates with the atmosphere. The fan and piping rest on a framework composed of angle bars 20 and 29 and braces The shaft of the fan 15 1)1OV1C1QCl with a belt wheel 31 dri 'enfrom the wheel 13 on the shaft 10. The hood is-provided with doors 31 on opposite sides of the center to permit entry thereto and to the drum. The farther end .of the drum is provided with a door for a similar purpose.- The material to bedried is introduced into thedrum through an inclined spout 32 situated at the head ofthe ,drum between the shell 3 and the flue 11L The delivery end of the spout terminates above the center of the drum and the material falls upon a series of shovels or buckets to feed 01' guide the material well into the drum.

In the preferred form of feed device shown in Figs, 1 and 5, the, material is caught and deflected into the drumby a 011'- cular series of members,herein shown as flat plates or buckets 33. These plates are formed of integral pieces of steel and are preferably attached in any convenient manner to the inner periphery of the drum 3 and the outer periphery of the fine 11. The plates are preferably quadrilateral and have two parallel straight edges and two curved edges, the curved edges being adapted to conform respectively to the outer periphery of the flue 11"and the inner periphery ofthe drum'3. Each plate, as shown in this embodiment, lies in a plane perpendicular to the surface of the innerfiue and oblique to is axis and eachone is inclined inwardly downward, its pl theperiphery. On'acco'unt of the general structure and disposition of theplates, the material delivered upon them is urged well into the drum when the latter is rotated. Such buckets could also be used, of course, with structure maybe easily and cheaply made and on account of its simplicity and compositibn is very durable. 1

The material maybe fed to the spout in any approved way, but in order to make the drier automatic, a conveyer of suitable character is provided. In the present in stance, an endless conveyer or elevator 31 is removably supported at one end by the framework of angle bars 20.. The buckets of the conveyer deliver into the spout The upper shaft 35 of the conveyer turns in suitable bearings on the angle iron framework and 1s provlde'd w1th a bevel gear 36 meshing with'a similarfgear 37 attached to a shaft 38 suitablysupported; To the shaft ,88 is hired a sprocket wheel 39 and a sprocket chain connects the wheel 39 with the sprocket wheel 11 on the shaft 10.

The discharge end of the drum is provided with a central opening and around said opening on the inside of the end of the drum and oblique to the edge thereof are secured a pluralitv of flights or'plates10, Z-shapedpockets and as the pockets incline the material is discharged from their inner open ends.

The rear end of the drum is also provided with a central opening 11, and

within the mounted opposite the opening drum is a discharge plate 12 of conical formation I having a plurality; of radially disposed partitions 13. The apex of the'cone ane hence being oblique to a non-rotating 'drum. The bucket is aised above the openingas the drum rostates "and 1s dehvered from the pockets i0 upon the;curved surface the cone, which chamber 16. p braces extending from the frame 1 and carries a y ir supply system.) This system COI'HPFISGS afuel tank and an air-"pump 61 operated deflects it through theyopening. The partitions43 are intended toprevent any material falling back into the drum.

The heat used inthedrier is derived from thecombustion of liquid fuel, preferably some oil like fuel oil. The support 1 liquid fuel burner 59 and a fuel and abeltfronr the wheel 69 on the shaft 10. A pipe 62 extends fro nthe pump to the tank and serves to deliver air therein to force the fuel oil from thetank up through the pipe 63- to. the burner which is situated in juxta position to and adapted to deliver into the Pipe GQis held in place by pipe 63 is secured to the angle bars 201 Another pipe 16;") extends from pipe 62 to l the burner; and is adapted to supair to the burner. This pipe is likewise supported bythe bars 20. Allpipes are provided with regulating valves and the burner isfprovided with the customary needle valve.

The oil fed to the burner from the tank is sprayed bythe air. at the needle valve into sion 14 ofthe flue d.

the fine or chamber 16. Ignition of the mixture results in a large volume of highly heated products which pass. into the exteni Asdriers of the type herein described are of somewhat large proportions and consider ableweight, their practicability is added to byany reduction of their size, or the weight of parts, without sacrificing strength or capacityJf By employing an .oilburner of the kind, herein described an: efficient drier of comparativelysmall size and weight is produced, and onewhich isportable and easily manipulated, Suitable brake shoes (56 for the wheels areprovided. and maybe operated through the hand lever 67 and the rod 68. a a

The operation of thetdrier is as follows:

The drier is connectedby abelt on the pulley 12 to any suitable source of power.

Through the described gearingthe drum is rotated, the fan:is operated, and the pump set in motion to feed the oil and an to the burner Thccombustible mixture in the chamber 161s ignited. and the products of combustion passtherefrom into the fine 4,

drawing into the fine 1 a [further supply of air, by injector action."through the opening between the fines l, and 1 1, for the consump tion of anyincompletely burned products in a the fine 4. gases heat the materiallin the drier as they The hot and'partlv burning pass from one end to the other through the flue-4, and they emerge into the drum at the farther end. From here the gases pass back to the head of the drum in contact with the material to bedried, thence into the hood, thence to the fan or into the stack, according to which is employed. The conveyor feeds the material into the spout, whence it passes into the drum by way of the buckets, the rotation of the drum continually turning the material over and over and dropping it onto the hot flue 4, whence it falls to the bottom of the drum, the inclination of the drum causing the material. to progress from end to end therein. The z shaped plates or buckets raise the dried material 1 tion could be made without departing from the scope thereof,it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. i

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a movable support, a rotatable drier thereon, a rotatable fine, a combustion chamber embraced by said flue,

v and a fluid fuel burner projecting into said combustion chamber.

In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a movable support, a rotatable drier thereon, a rotatable flue therein adapted'to convey heat to said drier, a combustion chamber relatively fixed with respect to the rotative motion of said tlue and eInln-accd thereby, said chamber being adapted'to deliver products of combustion to saidflue, and a fluid. fuel burner projecting into said chamber.

In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a movable support, a rotatable drier thereon, a hood about one end of said drier and forming an exit for gases emerging therefrom, a lluehcld in said drier and having a portion projecting therefrom and through said hood, a combustion chamber embraced by said flue and projecting thereintoto a point adjacent said end of the drier, and a fluid fuel burner projecting into said chamber.

-l. In an apparatus of the character do projecting through said hood,

.surroundingthe end of said 'a rotatable drumcarried thereby,

adapted to deliver scribed, incombination, amovable support, a rotatable drier drum thereon, aflue held in said drum and rotatable therewith, a hood si'irrounding one end of said drum, said flue a combustion positioned within the projection of and spaced therefrom, and a fluid fuel burner chamber.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a movable support, a rotatabledrier drum thereon, a flue held in said drum and rotatable therewith, a hood drum adapted to receive products of combustion emerging therefrom. said flue projectingthrough said hood to a point exterior thereof, a "combuschamber tion chamber adj ustably held within the end fluid fuel burner projectof said flue, and a ing into said combustion chamber.

(3. In an apparatus of, the character described. in combination, a movable support, a conveyer attached to said support and adapted to feed the drum, a fluid fuel burner mounted on the support and adapted to deliver its product to the drum, means for establishing a draft from said burner into and through the drum, and means carried by the support to simultaneously operate the drum, the conveyer andthe draft establishing means.

7. In an apparatusof the characterdescribed, in combination. a movable support, a rotatable drum carried thereby, a fluid fuel burner mounted its product to the drum, and means adapted-to establish a draftin said drum and mounted on said support comprising a fan communicating with an outlet outside said drum, and means mounted on said support adapted to operate said fan.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a support, a fluid fuel burner supported thereby, a drier drum supported thereon, a hood adapted to receive'the end of said drum, a discharge flue surrounded by said hood, and a combustion chamber surrounded bvand spaced from said discharge flue and supported adjacent said hood, said combustion chamber being adapted toreceive products of combustioi.

from said burner.

9. In an apparatus of the character described. incombination, a movable support, a fluid fuel burner supported thereby, a drier drum supported thereon, a hood mounted on said support and adapted to receive theend of said drum, a discharge flueextending into said drum and surrounded by said hood. and a combustion chamber concentric with and spaced from said flue and adjustably supported relative to said hood. said combustion chamber being adapted to receive productsof combustion from said burner.

projecting into said combustion combustion thereto,

on the support and.

10. In an apparatus of thecharacter described, in combination, a movable support, a drier drum carried thereby, a hood adapted to receive the end of said drum,- a discharge flue surrounded by said hood, a combustion chamber surroundedbysaid flue, spaced therefrom, adapted to deliver products of and a fluid fuel burner adapted todischarge into said combustion chamber. I I V 11. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a rotatable drum having a feed opening, a flue surrounded by said drum, and a member attached to said drum and said flue adapted to deflect material into said drum.

12. In an apparatus .of the character described, in combination, a rotatable drum open at one end, a flue surrounded by said drum. and flat plates securedto said flu'e and to said drum and adapted to deliver inaterial therein.

' 13. In an appa atus of the character described, in combination, a rotatable drum having a feed opening in its head, a flue extending within said drum having an en-" larged portion, and quadrilateral flat plates obliquely secured to'the inner periphery of said drum adjacent said opening and attached to said enlarged portion, said plates being perpendicular to said flue and inclined to the axis thereof.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, i11 combination, a movable support, a fluid fuel burner carried thereby, a rotatable drum havinga' flue mounted on the support, means provided for the introduction of the products of combustion from said burner into said flue, and'm'eans adapted to inject air into said flue at a point remote from said burner. I 15. In an appa aims of the character'described, in combination, a movable support, a hood on said support having an opening for the exit of products of combustion, means adapted to establish a draft through said openin a drum on said support communicating with said hood, a combustion chamber, a fluid fuel burner adapted to discharge into said combustion chamber, means adapted to guide products of combustion from said combustion chamber to said opening comprising a flue in said drum and communicating with said combustion chamber, and means adaptedto prevent the passage of products of combustion from said combustion chamber to said opensaid draft. except for the exit of products of combustion, means adapted to establish a draft through said openlng, a drun'r on said support conunumeating with said hood, a combustion chamher, a fluid fuel burner adapted to discharge into said combustion chamber, means adapted to guide products of combustion from said combustion chamber to said opening comprising a fiue in said drum and communicating with said combustion chamber, means adapted to prevent the passage of products of combustion from said combus tion chamber to said opening under the influence of said draft except by way of said flue, a supply tank for fluid fuel, a pipe adapted to lead fuel tosaid burner, an air pump adapted to create a feed pressure in said tank, and a second pipe adapted to supply air to said burner and communicating With said pump. I

17. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a movable support, a hood on said support having an opening for the exit 'of products of combustion, means adapted to establish a draft through said opening, a rotatable drum on said support communicating with said hood, a combustion chamber, a fluid fuel burner adapted to discharge mto said combustion chamber,

means adapted to guide products of combustion from said combustion chamber to said opening comprising a rotatable flue in said rotatable drum and communicating with said combustion chamber, means adapted to prevent the passage of products of combustion from said combustionchamber to said opening under the influence of said draft except by Way of said flue, a supply tank for fluid fuel, a pipe adapted to lead fuel .to said burner, an air pump adapted to create feed pressure in said tank, and a second pipe adapted to supply air to said burner and communicating with said pump.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in the presence of two Witnesses.

' WILLIAM B. RUGGLES.

Witnesses:

LAURA E. SMITH, J. B. L. ORME. 

